Pahalgam Attack: Misinformation in the News

May 03, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

Hello,

A major news story involving loss of innocent lives breaks. Everyone goes into panic mode. Lots of images, videos, and claims go viral on the internet. The mainstream media picks some of the viral content—only to find out later that it was ‘fake news’. Read on!

LEARN WITH BOOM

Context: Indian media outlets aired a letter and an advisory claiming that thousands of soldiers in the Pakistan Army put in their resignations following the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025. 

However, it was a fake letter. 

In this case, it actually didn’t take much technical expertise for BOOM’s fact-checking team to debunk the claim.

All we did: observed the viral documents carefully and found several discrepancies including spelling errors and incorrect designations.

BOOM also reached out to Pakistani multimedia journalist Shiraz Hassan who confirmed that both the documents are fake. 

But this isn’t the only thing that media outlets got wrong. Some news outlets aired a letter claiming Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was hospitalised following Pahalgam, to be treated for hemorrhoids. 

Again, BOOM found that letter is false with incorrect designations and does not read like an official letter from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

TL;DR:

  • Not everything on the internet is true.

  • Fact-checking is not always about using online available tools. A lot of times, it’s about observing the viral content carefully and finding out red flags.

  • It’s okay to question everything that comes your way even though the source is trustworthy otherwise. 

EXPLAINED

Explained: What India’s Suspension of the Indus Treaty Means for the Region

India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) for the first time since its inception. This marks a major shift in a pact that has endured major wars and years of cross-border hostility, including terror attacks backed by Pakistan. 

How can it affect Pakistan?: Pakistan is the lower riparian country in the Indus River system, meaning it is downstream from India, where the rivers originate. This geographical position places Pakistan at a disadvantage, making it heavily reliant on the upstream flow of water. 

Can India suspend the treaty unilaterally? Find out in Hera Rizwan’s explainer.

How The Blinkit Protest In Varanasi Exposes Cracks In India’s Gig Economy

  • Blinkit blocked around 150 delivery workers’ accounts in Varanasi after they went on strike demanding fair pay, breathable uniforms and better working conditions. 

  • Workers were allegedly pressured to submit video statements pledging not to protest again. 

  • Riders also alleged drastic pay cuts and arbitrary incentives, citing a drop from Rs 14/km to Rs 9/km and a major reduction in bonuses. 

  • The incident has spotlighted the legal vacuum for gig workers in India, who lack formal employee protections and operate solely on company-drafted contracts.

LAW, JUSTICE ET AL

Digital Access A Fundamental Right: Supreme Court

In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court said digital access is a fundamental right under Article 21 – right to life and liberty. The top court said true inclusion will be achieved only after technological advancements accommodate the diverse needs of all citizens. 

Closing the digital gap: “Bridging the digital divide is no longer merely a matter of policy discretion but has become a constitutional imperative to secure a life of dignity, autonomy and equal participation in public life,” the judgment authored by Justice R Mahadevan said before laying detailed guidelines aimed at overhauling eKYC norms to include accessibility for the differently abled. 

The top court’s 30 April verdict came on a plea filed by acid attack survivors—one of whom was 100 per cent visually impaired—who sought access to banking facilities and e-governance services. Read Ritika Jain’s story.

'FAKE NEWS’ YOU ALMOST FELL FOR

🔍 Is this video of US President Donald Trump supporting India's actions against Pakistan following the terrorist attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam legit? Find out in 🔗 Archis Chowdhury’s ↗️ fact-check.

🔍 A disturbing video of a person being repeatedly flogged with his hands and legs tied to a cot, went viral falsely linking it to the Pahalgam terrorist attack. 🔗 Srijit Das ↗️ debunked the claim.

🔍 “From April 29 to June 2, no one should go outside (under the open sky) between 10 AM and 3 PM, as the Meteorological Department has reported that temperatures will rise between 45°C to 55°C.” Did you receive this message too? Find out the truth in 🔗 Nidhi Jacob’s ↗️ fact-check.

🅱️ RECOMMENDS

This week's recommendation is: Confronting Fake News Through Collective Intelligence in Adolescents

Was this forwarded to you?

Verified By Boom is written by Divya Chandra, edited by Adrija Bose and designed by H Shiva Roy Chowdhury.

If you have suggestions about this newsletter or want us to conduct workshops on specific topics, drop us a line at 👉 [email protected] and we will get back to you in a jiffy. Thanks for reading. See you next week.👋

—🖤 Liked what you read? Give us a shoutout! 📢

—Become A BOOM Member. Support Us!

—Stop.Verify.Share - Use Our Tipline: 7700906588